This March 27, 1968 newspaper article was taken from the Democrat Herald of Baker City, Oregon.

contributed by Richard Konizeski

Last chance for people to see radar in operation

Operating facilities at the 821^st Radar Squadron Beaver Mountain Site will cease operation following an open house tour this weekend, U. S. Air Force officials have advised.

The tour is set for Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. both days. It offers the last opportunity for Baker area residents to see the radar equipment operating.

The facilities are located off from State Highway 7 at the top of Dooley Mountain. The highway was reported clear, but visitors were urged to use caution on the dirt and gravel road to the radar facilities. There will be traffic uphill and downhill during the tour.

Military aids will conduct visitors around the site and answer all questions.

Closure of the Baker base is expected to be completed by July. No plans have been announced for future use or dismantling of the Beaver Mountain facilities, Baker base facilities, and Baker off-base housing development.

Word on these latter plans will likely be made through Oregon congressional sources, it was stated.

First word indicating the radar base would be phased out was in January of 1965, as part of a military cutback. Construction of the base began in 1957. Several years later while still under construction the Beaver Mountain facility was expanded to become semi-automatic instead of following the original plan for manual control radar.

The number of personnel at the base, both Air Force and civilian, has ranged from 130 to 175. Counting dependants, the squadron population in Baker has been estimated at a total of about 550 persons.